Super Slumber: The Nerdy Way I Put Myself to Sleep

Like any other responsible adult, I have lost my fair share of sleep due to stress or worry. I may have tossed and turned well before adulthood, but the point of this article is not to whine about my droopy eyelids and dark circles. An effective method of putting myself to sleep developed out of a particularly stressful time in my life. I managed to slip into an unusually long “funk” after college graduation. Post-vacation blues mixed with unemployment, debt, self-doubt and family trouble added up to a freakishly uncharacteristic gloominess. I replaced sleep with video games, job applications, partying and exercise. Distractions only kept me feeling awake for so long. I would get tired and try to sleep, but stare off while my brain flickered in and out of different scenarios that ranged from hopeful to terrifying. This is when I came up with my delightfully nerdy brain tranquilizer.

Time Travel and Running from Bulls: The Day I Visited Kilcolman Castle

During my senior year of college, I took a course entitled “England and Ireland in the 16^th Century.” With a History professor and an English professor heading the class together, we focused on the significance of the historical relationship between the two countries and the literature that came out of the time period. Little did I know that the class would lead to stories of Irish folk band bar crawls, getting lost in the catacombs of ruined castles, battles with electric fences and running from a herd of bulls. At the end of the semester, the group would travel first to England and then to Ireland for a 3 week study abroad term. While the trip was jammed full of “great story” material, there’s one day in particular that stood out, the day we visited Edmund Spenser’s Kilcolman Castle in County Cork, Ireland.

Real XP: Influential Gamer Moments

Headquarters Beercade
Chicago, IL

I play video games in search of epic moments. When I complete a level or upgrade my stats, I have an emotional reaction. There is a true sense of accomplishment that comes with conquering an obstacle, but the best part of the experience is having the ability to play an active role within the story. Whether it’s an amazing plot twist, display of player skill or just a stunningly beautiful environment, some moments have a greater impact than others. Not all of these gamer experiences happen in-game. Milestones, accomplishments and realizations in the real world can truly change a gamer. Here are a few of my own most influential gaming moments.

Completionist’s Plight: Gaming for 100%

I have been a gamer since I was able to hold an Atari joystick as a young kid. Playing video games has always been something that relaxes and comforts me. However, “gamer” is a very broad term with a number of sub-categories that describe the type of gamer that someone may be. There are terms that describe the amount you play, like “hardcore” or “casual” gamers. There are also those who play computer games (PC gamers) as opposed to playing on an Xbox, Wii or PlayStation (console gamers). There are many other gamer sub-groups, but I identify with those known as the “completionists.”

More Than Passion: Why I am a True Nerd

“I am a nerd.” I’m not ashamed to say it out loud during ice-breaker activities at work or school, or throw it into conversations with strangers at parties. The truth is, “nerd” doesn’t carry the same lopsided weight that it used to. There was a time when nerds weren’t open about it, when bullies used that word as a weapon. I was afraid of being a nerd. While nerds may have been stereotyped as smart (though I always thought of “geeks” as the smart kids), the name also carried connotations of being socially awkward or immature. At an age when acting mature or “grown-up” makes you cool, fantasizing about being a wizard that rides a dinosaur to school didn’t exactly earn you a letterman’s jacket. However, I had a uniquely fortunate childhood.